Mitt Romney did Donald Trump a BIG favor by attacking him

By Chris Cillizza | March 3, 2016

Mitt Romney savaged Donald Trump as deeply dishonest and fundamentally unelectable in a much-touted speech in Utah today, an attempt by the 2012 Republican presidential nominee to force a reexamination of the real estate billionaire before he gets any closer to locking up the GOP nomination.

"Here’s what I know," Romney said. "Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He’s playing the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat."

Harsh words! Particularly from the decidedly gentlemanly Romney.

This, you might think to yourself, is, finally, the moment when the establishment — such as it is — stands up to Trump, screaming "enough" at the top of its lungs and, in so doing, bringing the party back from the brink of an total electoral disaster.

You would be, almost certainly, totally wrong. In fact, being attacked by Romney is more likely to cement Trump’s hold on the nomination than loosen his grip on it. Here’s why.

Romney is the face of the establishment. He’s just the sort of guy the party loves — a measured statesman who views running for office as a civic duty. He’s "serious." He has "gravitas." He is "trustworthy" and "steady."

He’s also the embodiment of everything Trump has built his entire campaign against. Romney is too cautious, too mannerly, not tough enough for Trump’s taste. He’s the face of a Republican Party that lost twice to Barack Obama. He’s part of the problem, not the solution.